Home > Update from the Field: World Happiness, Food Aid + When Beauty and Poverty Collide

Update from the Field: World Happiness, Food Aid + When Beauty and Poverty Collide

Compiled by Allison Moomey | KF16 & KF17 | Bénin

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Jamie enjoys the view on his way to visit borrowers in one of the Philippines' most beautiful but poverty affected areas.

Now there comes a time in every Kiva fellow’s life when… he or she begins contemplating, analyzing, and trying to make sense of the past few months’ experiences. We’ve learned how to navigate busy streets, seen joyful faces, and witnessed trials in the lives of clients. From transportation to foreign aid, we’ve gained a little insight, and many of us now have deeper poverty alleviation thoughts rolling around in our heads. While our fellowships may not have given us an answer as to how to sustainably develop a country’s economy, they have raised a lot of valuable questions for us to contemplate. Read this week’s posts to check out perspectives on the World Happiness Report from the country ranked lowest, reflections on aid, development and agriculture, creative transportation, and the reality of poverty amidst beautiful beach landscapes.

Watership Down and the World Happiness Report[2]Michael Slattery | KF17 | Togo
Mike shares his perspectives on the World Happiness Report from the country ranked lowest, Togo. He looks at the role of aid, international development projects, and of course microfinance.

Food Aid: Feeding Bellies, Starving Markets?[3]Ryan Cummings | KF 17 | Liberia
Ryan poses the complicated question of international aid’s role in development. Although it feeds hungry stomachs, is it a sustainable and beneficial practice?

Public Transportation in Santo Domingo[4]David Gorgani | KF 17 | Dominican Republic
After a short break in the States, David reflects on the vast differences between public transport in the US and the Dominican republic. Although the latter may be less spacious and more chaotic, it effectively and efficiently meets the unique needs of the many people who call Santo Domingo home (or travel destination).